This is a chapter 7 summary of the book “Movement” by Gray Cook.

Intro

The SFMA’s goal is to assess functional capabilities. This system is based on Cyriax differentiation and grading principles. Instead of describing things as strong, weak, painful, or painless; the following descriptors are utilized:

• Functional nonpainful (FN): Unlimited movement and able to complete a breath cycle at end-range. Called the dead end.
• Functional painful (FP): Called the marker, reassessed.
• Dysfunctional nonpainful (DN): Limited, restricted, impaired mobility, stability, or symmetry. Labored breathing with movement also implicates this choice. Called the pathway, where treatment occurs.
• Dysfunctional painful (DP): Called the logical beehive because we do not know if pain is causing poor movement or vice versa. It is an unreliable place to work unless acute situations.

SFMA corrective and manual therapy lie in treating the FP’s and DN’s. The order at which things are treated also matters, so the order listed below for the top tier tests is also typically where treatments should hierarchically begin.

• Cervical spine patterns (CSP)
• Upper extremity patterns (UEP)
• Multi-segmental flexion (MSF)
• Multi-segmental extension (MSE)
• Multi-segmental rotation (MSR)
• Single leg stance (SLS)
• Overhead deep squat (ODS)

We then operate the SFMA in the following fashion: